The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-27
A DAY ON THE RHINE.
A Georgian's Experience on the Far
Famed River.

MAYENCE, Oct. There is no scene
more delightful on the whole continent of
Europe than the valley of the Rhine.
Lovely and charming in its natural beauty
and rich in its historical memories, art in ali
of its departments has been placed under
tribute to enhance its attractiveneSs. Not
so ma jeStic as the Hudson, nor grander in
its natural attractions than the Connect
cut valley, yet it has lived in song and
story over a thousand years, Where is the
school boy or girl either who has not, some
time i'll their scholastic life, repeated
or heard Mrs Bottoms "Bingen on the
Rhine declaimedf
In ali well-developed plans for trips on
the continent, the Rhine is never omitted
So after spending a few days in the grand
old city of Cologne, party, consisting OF
Hon. d. p. Thompson, banker and large
lumber merchant OF Portland Ore, and his
excellent wife: Miss Belts, of Boston, Mass,
Miss Ida Wilbourne, of Macon, Ga, and tbs
writer and wife, arranged for day on this
classic stream.
Cologne is an old city, founded 10y Ubii,
in the days of Agrippa. In 81 \. d.
Agrippina, the mother of Nero, located
colony of Roman veterans, and 1t was
called Colonia Claudia Agrippina From
the end of the fifth century Cologne be-
longed to the Kingdom of the Franks.
Through all the conflicts OF the dark ages
the city maintained its identity, although
in the sixteenth century, from the continual
discord between the leading families, Its
commerce lost its importance.
The Punishment OF the ProteStautS in 1908
proved a serious and almost fatal blow TO
its existence IL was not until 1918 when
under Russian rule that Cologne began to
revive, while now it ranks as the first city
in the Rhenish Provinces, having popula
lation of l6l. eG6, five-siXths of whom are
t.,1 1
be the most magnificent gothic edifi:e i'll
the world. 1t certainly is a marvel o.
architectural beauty and finish. 1t was
commenced in l24S and was not completed
until 1880.
IT WAS A BRIGHT DAY
in September when the American pilgrims
embarked on tine steamer Wilhelm Kaiser
at the landing in Cologne. The river at
this point is ~ feet above the level of the
sea and 433 yards wide. There was a
gooily company, but mostly natives, who
spoke in an unknown tongue. | never can
get used to being a foreigner. but SIX in our
own party rendered the day most delight
full. There we're a number of English people
aboard, but, like they are at home they
kept themselves aloof. With all due defer
ence to their worth and cleverness, they are
the quoerest people ON earth. They take
all their pleasures sadly, and ia there is any
enjoyment in their methods it is purely
selfish for no other person eau get near
enough to realize it. | have Travelled 200
miles On the same seat with two English
men, and not one word was spoken Oh the
triD.
But Hans and Fraulein with their huge
basket, and long necked bottiei and the
everlasting pipe, are quite different on a
Journey. Good huuor and good cheer is
everywhere around them. France was
represented by a family or two but they
We're reticent being in an enemy's country.
The day WAS all that could be desired, and
leaving at s o'clock, the hour was propitious
for easy movement. The steamer was neat
and comfortable and the purser the
jolleit buchanan of 275 pounds l ever
saw. He moved about the deck with ma
jeStic strides The engine struggled ener-
getically, for il had TO stem both tide and
wind. The little steamer moved slowly, but
gracefully. up the hill, for we made the as
cent OF i5U feet during the day.
The whole scene over which the eye could
range was picturesque landscape Moth
ing of special interest was noted until we
reached Bonn. The lofty tower of the
Munster. the handsome residences on the
river above the town, tho long buildings of
the university peeping from among the
trees, give the town very attractive APP
pearauce from the steamboat. Bonn is
city of So 900 in bitants the seat of one of
the most noted universities i'll the world,
and has about 300 students i'll attendance.
Ii was one OF the first Roman fortresseS on
the Rhine, and is often mentioned by
Tacitus. The city has many points of ut
traction, but we had no time for investiga-
ton. From this point the river is narrower
and the scenery more fascinating.
WE SOON REACH RoLANDsECK,
one of the most beautiful and freuuented
spots on the river. We pass an island Just be-
fore reaching The village, on which there
is nunnery Of ancient origin, built about
the twelfth century. 1t was suppressed in
1902 but was opened again as a girls school
in lS45. 1t lies hidden amid shrubs and
trees just above ii 800 feet is Roland's Arch,
the last relic of the castle built by the re-
nowned Knight Roland. And on this
there hangs tale, which l must
condense from the pen of another:
Roland was the paladin of Charlemagne
He went as a guest of Count Herbert the
lord of the Seven Mountains. to the castle
of Drachenburg. The peerless Hldegunde,
daughter of the host according to custom,
received him. Her beauty captvated him
and soon they were aiiianced lovers. Their
happiness was brief. Roland was summoned
by Charlemagne to the crusade 1t was re-
ported that the brave knight had fallen by
TIE hands of the nfidels In her inconsola-
bic grief Hildegunde took refuge in the nun
merry on the little island The
Roland returned to claim his
bride he found she was forever lost to him.
In despair be built the castle of which one
crrlmbling arch remains to tell of his devo-
ton. Here he lived the only comfort in
his solitude. was catching an occasional
glimpse of Hildegunde's fair form as she
passed to and fro from the chapel. One day
he missed her from the procession, and soon
the tollmg bell told the mournful story that
his beloved was no more From that mo
rnent Roland never spoke again. His heart
was broken. One morning he was found
cold and lifeless, his CLASSY eyes still turned
toward the convent chapel.
Just one-half mile from this broken arch
is a tower on the hill called Oberwinter
which affords one of the finest scenes on the
Rhine. The village of Rolandseck and the
Drachenfels, with its castle, the cliffs of
Walkenburg, and the whole of the peaks of
the Seven Mountains, upward Of thirty in
number, form a picture of incompatible
beauty, the lovely island, with its
nunnery peeping out from under the trees,
and the grand river itself constituting the
foreground.
on EITHER SIDE,
the banks were covered with VINEYARDS
laden with rich and tempting fruit The
peasants were diligent in their labors to